Press Releases

Kabul, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s first private business incubator, Startup Valley, has graduated its second group of 22 female entrepreneurs. The new graduates are now set to take their business concepts to market. For five months, the course, administered by AGHAEZ Professional Services and supported by USAID: Promote Women in the Economy (WIE), trained, mentored, and provided networking and learning opportunities for the young entrepreneurs. They interacted with other Startup Valley beneficiaries who have already navigated the startup and launch processes.

“Young entrepreneurs are the future of the country and are at the forefront of economic development and sustainability in Afghanistan. We congratulate the hard work and entrepreneurial vision of these young women,” said Susan DeCamp, Director of USAID’s Gender Office.

The new business concepts range from a computer education center for the hearing impaired, organic jam production, to quail farming. Startup Valley and WIE will continue to provide six months of follow-up advisory and technical support.

Officials from the US Embassy, USAID/ADALAT and the Ministry of Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the US Embassy in Kabul. The MoU will serve as a guiding document between USAID/ADALAT and the MOJ that outlines responsibilities and commitments of both parties.

In October of 2012, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Afghanistan launched an economic growth program to work with the private sector to strengthen productivity and help enterprises sustain growth and create jobs.

USAID, in collaboration with the University Support and Workforce Program (USWDP) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), held a one-day University Chancellor’s Forum on July 11, 2017, to focus on the role of Afghan universities in shaping the future of Afghanistan.

Leaders from the Ministry of Higher Education and Kabul Polytechnic University celebrated the graduation of the first 28 graduates, including eight females, earning an associate degree in Information Technology (IT) at Kabul Polytechnic University last week as part of a program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

One of the most difficult challenges for women farmers and agriculture-related business owners in Afghanistan is the access to credit for their agriculture operations, and understanding how credit works for them. However, help is on the way, thanks to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Afghan women have long been the target of violence and systemic injustice. While Afghan women have taken dramatic strides forward, female participation and contribution to the justice sector is an area that has been drastically inadequate to address these social issues women face daily. A recent survey of the International Development Law Organization found that in 2013 Afghan women made up only eight percent of the country’s judges, six percent of prosecutors and less than one fifth of lawyers.

Turning Afghanistan into a transit hub in the heart of Asia was the main topic for representatives from the Afghan government, private sector and donor community who met today during the Transports International Routiers (TIR) National Conference to discuss the future plan of transportation in the country. The event was organized by Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries with the support of USAID’s Afghanistan Trade and Revenue (ATAR) Project.

With support from USAID’s “Strengthening Education in Afghanistan-II project”, a new civil service organization called the “Teach For Afghanistan Organization” (TAO) was created to recruit and develop Afghanistan’s most promising graduates, or “Fellows”, to teach in high-needs schools around the country as part of a two-year commitment. The goal is to ensure all Afghan children are able to fulfill their potential through education. The Afghan program is based on the international “Teach For All” model.